GP Surgery Blunder Sends Lung Cancer Diagnosis Texts Instead of Christmas Wishes
Christmas Eve Shock for Hundreds at Doncaster Surgery
Instead of a festive greeting, hundreds of patients at Askern Medical Practice near Doncaster were left devastated on Christmas Eve after receiving a text wrongly informing them they had lung cancer.
The chilling message read: “A DS1500 for the above patient. Aggressive lung 1 with metastases.” A DS1500 form is used by terminally ill patients to claim benefits, while “metastases” signals cancer has spread — often meaning a grim prognosis.
Heartbreaking Mistake Sparks Panic and Tears
One patient, anxiously awaiting lung cancer results, broke down in tears after his partner called the surgery but found the lines busy. He rushed to the health centre demanding answers and was relieved to be told his results were negative.
Another victim of the blunder took to Facebook, saying they were “shaking and on the verge of tears” after receiving the message. “Something is clearly wrong at Askern Medical Practice,” they fumed. “This is not the first time I’ve gotten this text.”
Patients Left Fuming: “What The Hell?”
Many who received the text rushed to the surgery in shock, with one patient saying: “I’m not the only one. Several people in the surgery right now are reading the same text. I was near the surgery and walked in to say ‘what the hell?’. If they got this text, they’ll all be worried.”
Apologies Issued — But The Damage is Done
The surgery responded quickly, saying: “Please accept our sincere apologies for the previous text message sent. This was sent in error. We should have said to you, ‘We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.'”
But for those caught up in the scare, the festive season was far from joyful.
